Ubiquitous networked robots

Abstract

With the growing emergence of ambient intelligence, ubiquitous computing, sensor networks, and wireless networking technologies, “ubiquitous networked robotics” is becoming an active research domain of intelligent autonomous systems. It targets new innovative applications in which robotic systems will be integrated into ubiquitous computing environments as physical autonomous entities. These entities are able to interact autonomously with the ambient environment and provide added value services. So far, robots as cognitive entities will be able to coordinate their activities with other physical or logical entities, move around, sense and explore the ambient environment, and decide and act to respond to the situations they may face. These cognitive operations will become part of these networks of artefacts, to provide, individually or collectively, novel capabilities and various assistive services anywhere and anytime. This paradigm aims to build a bridge between ubiquitous computing and robotics, i.e., the creation of flexible, Internet-based, extensible architectures able to support any sort of intelligent and autonomous robotic services capable of interacting—in a typical “Internet of people, things and services” mode— with virtual or real artefacts. Theparadigmofubiquitousnetworkedrobots(UNR)raises a number of important research challenges such as: (a) realtime communication using heterogeneous wired and wireless networking technologies, in which relevant requirements concern the quality and continuity of communication services; (b) interoperability between the different pieces of hardware and software technologies used to guarantee a seamless interaction between the UNR and the surrounding devices and systems; (c) new paradigms of human–robot–environment interaction, including implicit communication mechanisms and artificial perception and reasoning; and (d) adaptability to the ubiquitous environment and scalability management. The UNR systems require more flexibility, mobility, security, reliability, and robustness through middleware mechanisms such as autonomic discovery of entities and services, service compo